the rain fell on his upturned face in torrents,
the lightnings descended, shivering a tree near where he stood, and
stunning him with the shock. He was prostrated, and lay on the green
sward motionless, the rain forming a pool about him, which was every
moment augmented as the torrents came down upon him.

When consciousness again returned, the sky was clear, without a single
cloud to mar its serenity. It was night, and the heavens were dotted
with a thousand gems that apparently smiled at the forlorn appearance
of the half-drowned chief as he slowly dragged himself from his
unsought bath. The lake was as placid as when he first saw it, and
there was nothing to remind him of the commotion that had raged around
him, save the shivered tree and his saturated garments and hair.

"It is the abode of the Evil Spirits," said he, "and they have lured me
hither." Starting in the direction whence he came, he saw within half a
mile, a camp-fire dimly burning as if struggling with wet fuel. Highly
elated at the discovery, as it plainly showed by their lighting a fire
that they were unaware of others being around, he crept noiselessly
towards them. Approaching within a few rods he saw they were a party of
about thirty, who were evidently on a hunt. They were not Snakes; he
was sure of that; but of what tribe they were he could not tell.
Evidently not of any tribe of which he had any knowledge, and they had
a stronger resemblance to the cannibals than to any others he had seen.
With this information he returned about midnight, much to the relief of
the rest at the camp, who had feared he had been captured, and were in
great suspense for his safety.

Chapter Fifteenth.

They endeavor to conceal themselves from the Indians. They are
discovered. A frightful encounter. Escape of Mahnewe. They pursue their
journey in the night and take a wrong direction. Discovery of a river,
over which they cross. Came to a prairie. Desolate appearance of the
country. Approach a sandy desert and conclude to cross it. They provide
themselves with ample provisions and set out over the cheerless waste.

All the next day they remained concealed in order to escape
observation, and to allow the strange Indians to go far enough away so
that they could proceed without being molested. Which way to journey
next was a difficult question to them, but as it would be quite
impossible to cross the barren, rocky hills before them, they finally
determined to